Child Development Associate National Credentialing Program

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The Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program is a major national effort to evaluate and improve the skills of caregivers in family child care (as well as center-based care and home visitor programs). The CDA Competency Standards and assessment process for family child care providers define, evaluate, and recognize the skills needed both to manage a well-run program in the home and to meet the needs of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. These standards do not attempt to impose center-like or formal routines on family child care homes. Rather, they support the uniqueness and flexibility of the in-home care environment as well as the diverse backgrounds and cultures of individual providers.

The CDA is a credential. It usually involves one year of preparation and assessment. Although the CDA is not a college degree, college courses can assist you in preparing for a CDA. In addition, completion of the CDA can encourage child care providers to take an additional step of professional development and pursue further college course work and even degrees in child development. The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition awards the CDA credential.

The CDA credential is available with a bilingual specialization in Spanish. An applicant who speaks, reads, and writes both Spanish and English and works in a bilingual child care program may be assessed for the bilingual specialization. For this specialization, the applicant must demonstrate knowledge about the development of language, bilingual communication, and the integration of culture and language.

The CDA evaluation process is based upon 3 components: training, assessment, and credentialing.

QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible to begin the CDA process, the applicant must

• Be 18 years or older, and
• have a high school diploma or equivalent.

TRAINING:

The CDA applicant must

• Have 480 hours (about one year full time) of experience working with children within the past five years.
• Have completed 120 clock hours of training with at least 10 hours in each of eight CDA Training areas:
  • Health and safety
  • Physical and intellectual development
  • Social and emotional development
  • Relationships with families
  • Program operation
  • Professionalism
  • Observing and recording children's behavior
  • Child growth and development

ASSESSMENT

Assessment is conducted through a combination of observation, parent opinion questionnaires, and written and oral evaluation.

• Candidates must prepare a professional resource file that includes their biography, statements of competence, and a collection of relevant resources.
• The applicant must be observed working as the primary care giver with at least two children 5 years old or younger who are not related to her/him in any way.
• Observations must take place in a child care home that meets minimum level of their state and local regulations for a family child care home.
• Observations are made by a qualified CDA adviser.
• Parent Opinion Questionnaires will be completed by the parents/guardians of each child in the applicant's care.
• The early childhood studies review, a written assessment of the applicant's knowledge of child development, must be completed by the applicant.
• An Oral Interview with a council representative will be conducted.

CREDENTIALING

Upon recommendation of the Local Assessment Team, the CDA National Credentialing Program will either award the credential or invite the applicant to reapply for assessment.

A CDA credential is valid for 3 years after the initial award and for 5 years thereafter.

FEES

The application fee is $15.00 plus $3.75 shipping and handling for materials.

The final verification fee is $325. Scholarships may be available from Early Childhood Associations in the applicant's state of residence.


For further information and to make application to begin the credentialing process, contact:

The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition
2460 16th Street, NW
Washington, D. C. 20009
(800) 424-4310

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